Refrigeration apparatus



Aug. 7, 1945. E. c. TANNER REFRIGERATION APPARATUS Filed Nov. 5; 194s51.0 C. Tn-uueR.

ATroR Y bonator, one or more syrup tanks, and the vari- 53 may beinterposed between the source and cos water and syrup pumps and valves.A pump the valve ill. I is provided to force water into the carbonator,The water component in tank it is cooled by and a motor driven agitatoris provided to cira refrigerant evaporator it operatively connectculatethe water bath. ed by suitable conduits to and 2b with a con- Thepresent invention eliminates the separate densing unit it. A carbonator22 is also disshown as two in number; are disposed inside 28, pump 26,conduit 29, conduit 34 and restricted filling neck I! extending throughthe top removvalve 30 be closed, all the water passing through PatentedAug. 7, 1945 l STATE FATE REFRIGERATION APPARATUS Elo Q. Tanner,Springfield, Mass, assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, EastPittsburgh, ha, a corporation of bennsylvanla Application November 5,1943, Serial No. 5059.087

5 Claims. (CL 62-141) um'rs This invention relates to drink (dispensingapgasket ll may be disposed around each neck id paratus and particularlyto apparatus of the above the cover it to prevent syrup from drlptypedisclosed in my copending application, Seping into the water tank whenthe receptacle rial No. 492,786, filed June 30, 1943, for Reirigi3 isbeing filled. crating apparatus. g The flow of water'into tank to iscontrolled" in that applicationihave described a'beverage by anysuitable mechanism, here shown as a dispensing apparatus wherein thewater coinfloat on operativelyconnected to a valve mechaponent of amixed beverage isdirectly cooled by nism 56 disposed in the inlet waterline 52 a mechanical refrigeratingapparatus and the which may beconnected to a city water supply cooled water component is used to coolthe cargo or other source of water under pressure. A filter agitator byusing the carbonator pump as a pose'dvin the tank to and is cooled bythe water means for positively circulating the water in the in thattank. The carbonato which y be bath. i of any selected type, is suppliedwith carbon di- 7 The apparatus is so constructed and arranged an oxidefrom a cylinder 23 through conduit 2t and that a device responsive tothe liquid level in the pr ur -r in valve 25- Pr o water is carbonatorserves to actuatethe pump to supply delivered to the carbonator by meansof a pump water to the cfarbonator. A device responsive to it driven bya 11101101 The Pu p 25 'p the temperature of the Water bath serves toably of the positive displacement type, capable control the operation ofboth the refrigerating 25 of generating a head pressure of 150 pounds orunit and the water'pump to efiect positive cirmore per square inch. Theinlet of the pump culation of the water in the bath as it is being isconnected by a conduit to with the bottom refrigerated and so tomaintain the bath temoi tank ill, and the discharge end is connectedperature substantially uniform. Preferably the by .conduits 29 and 4115with the carbonator 22. water pump has sufflcient capacity to supply the30 Flow of water through these conduits to the carbonator and circulatethe Water bath simulcarbonator is controlled by a solenoid valve 30.taneously should conditions so require. ,The liquid level in thecarbonator is controlled These and other objects are effected by my byany suitable means, here indicated as a float invention as will beapparent from the following M, which makes and breaks an electricalcircuit description and claims taken inconnection with through contacts32, 33, and 32', 33, solenoid the accompanying drawing, forming apart orso and pump motor-'21. Thus when the carthis application, inwhich:bonator needs water the float 3i lowers to close Fig. 1 is a. schematicrepresentation of a drink a circuit across contacts 32, 33, whereuponthe dispensing apparatus embodying my invention; solenoid valve 30 andpump motor 21 are ener- Fig. 2 is a wiring diagramior the anbara 0 sizedso h the P p 26 can "deliver Watr shown in Fig. 1; and through conduit29, past the open valve so and Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional viewthrough on through conduit to the carbonator.- Likewise, alternativeform of electrically operated valvewhen a predetermined high level hasbeen mechanism which may be used with the appareached, the circuitthrough contacts 32, 33 is ratus of Fig. 1 to control the path'oi' flowotthe 45 opened and another circuit through contacts 32',

cooled water. k 33' is closed, as is hereafter described, to break Atank l0, preferably insulated as indicated "the circuit through thesolenoid valve 30 and at H,'provides a receptacle for the water compumpmotor 21.

ponent of the mixed beverage whichis dispensed A ta 0 t Water in tank Inis se into a 0 9 i2. One or more syrup tanks l3, here 0 by pumping waterfrom the tank through conduit the tank Ill. Each tank I3 is providedwith 9. outlet 35 back to' tank l0. Should the solenoid able cover l5 oftank III. A cap or closure is the pump' 26 will berecirculated throughthe is provided for each syrup tank, and a removable conduit 34 to thetank. Should valve 30 be the apparatus previously described.

opened in response to a lowering of the float 3|, some of the water fromthe pump will be supplied to the carbonator and another part will berecirculated through the tank.

Preferably the pump 26 is started and stopped by atemperature-responsive device, such as bellows 36 which through contacts31, 38 also controls the operation of the refrigerant condensing unit. Abulb 39 immersed in the water in tank it! contains atemperature-responsive medium which expands when a predetermined watertemperature, say 40 F., has been reached causing bellows 36 to extend,thereby causing contactor 43 to bridge contacts 31, 38 and close anelectrical circuit energizing the motor for the condensing unit 2| andalso the motor 21 for the pump 26. When the temperature of the 80 andBI, pump motor 21 and conductor 82 to line conductor La. Thus, both thewater pump and refrigerating unit are started in response to a' highwater temperature.

Reverting to the position shown in Fig. 2, when suilicient water isdrawn from the carbonator to drop the float 3| far enough to break thecontacts 32', 33', but not far enough to bridge the contacts 32, 33, thesolenoid 61 will be deenergized and contactor 63 will bridge contacts10, 1|, conditioning the circuit for the succeeding operation,

but no circuit will be energized until the float has dropped low enoughto close contacts 32, 33. When this occurs, current flows from lineconductor L1 through conductors 36 and 68, contacts 32, 33, conductors83 and 83, solenoid 35,

.conductor 86, solenoid valve 30 and conductor water has been reduced toa predetermined degree, say 36 F., the bellows 36 contracts to open vthe circuit across contacts 31, 38, stopping operation of the condensingunit' and the water pump.

'In Fig. 3 I have shown an alternative valve arrangement for controllingthe flow of water to the carbonator in response to the float 3|.

' In this embodiment the solenoid 30' when energized, moves the valvestem 42 upwardly to seat valve 43 and unseat valve 44. Thus waterflowing through conduit 29' from the pump 28 will pass valve 43 and flowthrough conduit 45' to .the carbonator 22. At the same time valve 43stops the flow of water from conduit 23' through conduit 33' back totank In. By this arrangefigure, the circuit is shown with the operatingparts in the position they assume when the carbonator float 3| is in itshigh level position and with the refrigerant compressor and pump motorat rest. The main power conductors are designated as L1 and L2.

When the float is at its high level position, as shown in this figure,the circuit through contacts 32, 33 is open and the circuit through con;tacts 32, 33' is closed. Current now passes from line conductor L1through conductor 65, conductor 66, solenoid 61, contacts 32', 33', andconductors 63 and 68' to line conductor La. The solenoid 61, whenenergized, raises contactor 39. breaking a circuitthrough contacts 10,1|. Thus, assuming the thermostat contacts 31, 33 are open as shown, allcircuits betweenthe two line conductors are deenergized except thatthrough solenoid 31, and both the pump motor 21 and the refrigerantcompressor are at rest. I

It, in this position, the water bath in tank II should rise intemperature sufllciently to cause the closing of contacts 31, 38 by theexpansion of bellows 36, current will be supplied from line conductor L1through contacts 31, 38, conductor 12, solenoid 13, conductors 14 and15, compressor unit 2| and conductor 18 to line conductor Ls, startingthe compressor unit. The ,energization of solenoid 13 causes contactor11 to bridge contacts 18, 19. Current then flows from conductor 1%through contacts 18, 19, conductors In. this 68' to line conductor Lo.The solenoid 85 being energized, contactor 81 bridges contacts 38, 33and contactor 90 bridges contacts iii, 92. Ourrent then flows fromconductor 33 through contacts BI, 32, conductors 33 and Bi, pump motor21 and conductor 82 to line conductor 1o, starting the pump to supplywater to the carbonator, as the solenoid valve 30 is energized and open.

As the float 3| rises, the circuit through contacts 32, 33 is broken,but a holding circuit for solenoid 35 is maintained from line conductorLr .through conductor 65, contacts 10, ll, conductor 34, contacts 38,83, conductors 33, 33, solenoid 8i, conductor 33, solenoid 30 andconductor 63' to line conductor In. This condition is maintained untilthe float rises suiliciently high to close the circuit through contacts32', 33', energizing sole-- noid 31, opening contacts", 1| to deenergizethe holding circuit and restore the parts to the position shown in Fig.2, with the pump motor at rest.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. l, the pump is of sumcient capacity tosupply water to the carbonator and also to circulate the water bath inthe event that both the float and the thermostat close their circuitsconcurrrently. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, water will be shuntedto the carbonator when it requires water regardless of whether therefrigerant compressor isoperatin rbut this makes no material differenceas the carbonator fills in a few seconds'while the refrigerating cycleis usually of considerably longer duration.

The beverage dispensing system, which forms no part of the presentinvention, comprises. a solenoid-operated carbonated water valveconnected to the carbonator 22, a. syrup pump 56 and a solenoid-operatedsyrup valve 51 associated with each syrup tank l3. When theelectro-magnet of the carbonated water valve is energized through a;suitable circuit controlled by a coinoperated device or amanually-operated means (not shown), cold carbonated water flows fromthe carbonator 22 through the valve 35 and nozzle 53 to the cup l2. Atthesame time the solenoidoperated syrup valve controlling flow from theselected syrup tank is opened. The carbonated water flowing past valve33 is under considerable pressure and, through a bar-pass 33. some ofthis water is used .to actuate the syrup pump 56. Syrup will flow to thecup through conduit 33 however, only from that tank whose syrup valvehas been energized by the syrup selecting mechanism. Suitable timingmechanism (not shown) regulates the energization oi the syrup andearbonated water circuits to regulate the quantity of fluid dispensed.

The control of the flow of water from the stor selectively orsimultaneously, togetheiwith the use of a single pump for both supplyingwater to e carbonator and for agitating the water in the tank afford auseful, compact and emcient water cooling and carbonating system whichhas many applications.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to.those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptibleofvarious changes and modifications without departing irom the spiritthereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall beplaced thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In combination, a tank for storing water, means for cooling the waterin the tank, a carbonator, pump means for supplying water to thecarbonator-from said tank, means responsive to the liquid level in thecarb-onator for controlling operation ofv said pump means, and meansincluding saidpump means for agitating the water in said tank. I

2. In combination, a.tank for storing water, motor-driven means forcooling the water in the tank, a carbonator, motor-driven pump means forsupplying water to the carhonator from said tank-means responsive to theliquid level in the carbonator for controlling operation of said pumpmeans only, and means responsive to the tem-' perature of the water insaid tank, for controlling operation of both said pump means and saidmotor-driven .eoolingmeans. i

3. In combination, a tank for storing water a carbonator, pump means forsupplying water to the carbonator from said tank, electrically-operatedvalve means for controlling the flow of water from the tank to thecarbonator, means responsive to the liquid level in the carbonator forcontrolling operation of both said pump means and saidelectrically-operated valve means, and means including said pump meansfor agitating the water in the tank.

4. In combination, a tank for storing water, motor-driven means forcooling the Water in the tank, a carbonator, pump means for supplyingwater to the carbonator from said tank, electrically-operated valvemeans for controlling the flow of water from the tank to the carbonator,means responsive to the liquid level in the carbonator for controllingoperation of both said pump means and said electrically-operated valvemeans, and means responsiveto the temperature of the water in the tankfor controlling the operation of the pump means and the motor-drivencooling means only.

5. In combination, a tank for storing water, a carbonator, a pumpresponsive to the temperature of water in the tank for periodicallyagitating the water therein, and means responsive to the liquid level inthe carhonator for also controlling operation of said pump and forperiodically directing water flow from the tank through the pump to thecarbonator! ELO c. TANNERFV

